Pitch-indicator for tympanums



(N0 Model.) K 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

E. BOULANGER.

FITCH INDICATORPQR TYMPANUMS.

No. (355;971. Patented Jan. 11,'1887.

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, l .mZ'Ze/oakfge .fi I j v l (No Model.) 2 sheets-'sheet 2.

E. BOULANGER.

BITCH INDICATOR FOR TYMPANUMS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

FMILE BOULANGER, OF rST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FITCH-INDICATOR FOR TYMPANUMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,971, dated January 11, 1887.

Application tiled May 29, 1886.

lb @ZZ whom il? may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE BOULANGER, of theeity oi' St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pitclrlndieators for Tympanums, dto., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, and in Which Figure l is a perspective View of a tympanum with my indicator attached. Fig. 2 is a detail viewof the lower part of the tympanum, showing my invention, part in side view and partr in vertical section. Fig. 8 is an enlarged edge view ofthe segment of the dial of the indicator. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2, the cord and spring of the dial being removed.

My invention relates to an attachment for tympanums, Soc., and Ihave shown it connected to a tympanum such as shown and claimed in my application No. 187,628, filed January 4, 1886, the objectof the attachment being to indicate the pitch or the tone oi' the instrument by sight, thus affording means for the tuning ofthe instrument by sight instead of by ear, or, in other words, instead of by beating upon it, this lat-ter method being objectionable, particularly in theaters and like places, where such instruments are tuned alter the people have assembled.

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in 'the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body or kettle ofthe instrument, which is supported and operated as in my application referred to, and reference is made to this application for a description of this tympanum, which is one form upon which the attachment to which my present invention relates may be used.

B in this application represents the disk or ring F, in my i'ormer application referred to, constructed and operated and performing the same function in this application as in the other. Secured to the rod or stem C, upon which the disk is threaded, and beneath the disk, is a collar or hub, D, from which eX- tends a fixed arm, E, preferably bent to form a Serial No. 203.624. (No mo .el.)

verticalportion, E', as shown in Fig. 2. Pivoted to this arm E at F is an arm, F. The arm F has preferably a vertical part, Fi. The

inner upper 4end of the arm F extends beneath and bears against the bottom oi" the disk B, so that as the disk is screwed down u pou the stem O it Will depress the inner upper end, F, `ot' the arm F and raise its lower outer end, and as the disk B is screwed upon the stem G the upper end of the arm F follows it, and the lower end of the arm F descends, which is caused by a spring, G, connecting the arm F to the collar, or to any other iiXed object. It will thus be seen that as the ring or disk B is turned up or down the arm F will be correspondingly adjusted.

Secured to the lower outer end of the arm F, preferably by means of a hook, H, is a cord, wire, or other suitable connection, I.

Secured to the outer end of the arm E is a stem, J, upon the upper end ot' which is secured a dial, L. The stem J is preferably made hollow, and the connection I passes through it, as shown in Fig. 2. The dial preferably consists of a segment, M, slotted at N to receive adjustable disks O, upon which are marked letters indicating the tones ofthe instrument, as, for instance, A, B, C, D, and E, These disks have nuts O', by which they are held to desired position in the slot, the idea being that, if A and B, for instance, are not the proper distance apart to indicate the correct sounds, they may be adjusted to or from each other. The segment is supported by and connected to a disk or hub, P, by arms P. The disk is supported on a screw-threaded bolt or rod, Q, which passes through the upper end of the stem, or a head, J', secured to the stem to form part of it, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. rIhe head J is made hollow, so as to receive a hub, T, that surrounds the rod, and which carries the finger or hand 1V ofthe dial.

lThe upper end of the wire or connection I is wound around the drum T, and secured to it, as shown in Fig. 3, so that by the downward movement of the outer end of the arm F the drum T is caused to be turned backward, thus moving the ringer T from the position shown in Fig. 2 toward the letter A.

.. Screwing over the bolt Q, outside of the disk IOO -its outer end.

I? is a sleeve or stem, U, with a head, U, on

Surrounding this sleeve, between the head U and the disk l?, is a coilspring, V, as shown in Fig. 3. One end of this spring is secured to the sleeve U, and the other end is secured to thesegment M, as shown at M'. The action ot' the spring is to turn the finger T away from the direction it has been moved by the connection I and arm F, as above stated, so that when the outer end of the arm F is raised, loosening the connection I, the hand T is turned from the letter A in the direct-ion ofthe letter E by the spring V.

In case it is desired to make the hand turn more or less freely, and consequently the drum T, it may be done by tightening on the rod O,

thus drawing` the sleeve U up tightly against the disk I), and also acting to tighten the drum T in thehead J' ofthe stem J. By this means any tension may be given to the hand T', so that it will move more or less freely under the intl uenee ot' the connection I and the spring V.

The hub T is held on the bolt Q by friction, with sufficient friction between them to insure the turning ot' the drum under the influence of the spring` V and connection I; but should it be desired to adjust the hand independently of these it may be done by taking hold of it and forcing it in either direction, causi ng the drum T to turn on the bolt Q.

To prevent the spring G from pulling the arm F inward too far, I locate a piu, \V, in the arm E, behind the vertical part of the arm F, as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim as my invention-- l. In combination with a tympannm having means for tightening and loosening its head, an arm operated by said means, so as to be moved thereby, a dial,a pointer, means for moving the pointer in one direction, and means for moving the pointer in the opposite direction connected to the arm, substantially as described.

2. In combination with atympanum or like instrument, a dial, and mechanism connecting the tympanum and the dial, consisting, essentially, ot' astem, pivoted arm, and cord or wire, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the tympanum or like instrument having an adjustable disk, B, for tightening the head, pivoted arm located beneath the disk, dial, and connection between the dial and pivoted arm, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

et. In combination with a tympanum or like instrument having a tighteniugdisk, B, the pivoted arm, stationary arm to which the pivoted arm is secured,ste1n secured to the stationary arm, dial secured tothe stem, and cord connecting the pivoted arm to the dial, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

5. In combination with a tympanum or like instrument having a tighteningdisk, B, stationary arm, pivoted spring-arm operated by the disk, hollow stem supported by the fixed arm, dial supported on the stem, and cord or wire passing through the stem and connecting the pivoted arm to the dial, substantially as shown and described, i'o r the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with a tyinpanum orlike instrument having a tightening-disk, B, xed arm, arm pivoted to the fixed arm and moved in one direction by the disk, spring for moving the pivoted arm in the other direction, stem secured to the fixed arm, dial secured to the stem, and connection between th'e pivoted arm and dial, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set i'orth.

7. In combination with a tympanum, dial, and mechanism connecting the tympanum to the dial, the dial consisting ot" a segmental plate, finger or pointer, drum to which the linger or-pointer is secured, spring-sleeve, and a bolt conuectingthe spring-sleeve and drum, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination with a tympanum, an arm, a dial, a pointer, means for connectingl the pointer to the arm, and adjustable lettered disks on said dial, substantially as described.

EMILE BOULANGER.

In presence 01'- Gno. H. KNIGHT, EDw. S. KNIGHT. 

